Wonder Woman and Navel Gazing

I wonder mostly why we must navel gaze at this movie so much. There’s a lot of talk about how it’s the best DC comic book movie in a week of Wednesdays. And that feels like a valid discussion to have if you want. There’s the same, horribly necessary, dialog about the black and brown characters that are and are not represented in the movie. That, at least, feels like a real, needed call for change throughout the genre if you aspire to effect change. And there are, of course, comparisons to the, successful, Marvel comic movies about war and guys named Steve who give it up for the team. Talk that up if you want to go there. For me, the “it’s a superhero movie where a woman is the lead and I wish it could have also done more” conversation that reminds me that my stepmother was NEVER ENOUGH.

Good Lord, Nerds. In the end, it’s a superhero movie where people are saved from humanity’s own folly by a god-like creature that is better looking than all of us.

Superheroes were created for two reasons in my opinion – to fix that which people are unwilling to fix and to inspire regular people to act like heroes.

I know how much was riding on this. I went into the damn movie with a tension that should NOT accompany a choice between 3D and not 3D. I love a superhero movie, comic book, action figure, cosplay (accurate or happy wish fulfillment), etc. To take that simple joy from me is a crime against MY humanity. Yeah. Let’s raise the stakes.

You (some random reviewer) say, TOO MUCH STEVE. I say… the movie must have a narrator. Often, it’s the hero themselves. Dr. Strange. That kid in “Labyrinth.” Often, it’s a cool smart or strong character; but not cooler than our hero. A love interest or coworker (the dog character in Kurt Busiek’s Autumnlands, Jane Foster in Thor, or the smartest, most dangerous example in the Marvel movies; spy and Ant Man trainer: she who will be The Wasp). But Steve Trevor IS almost as cool as Wonder Woman and that maybe rankled but… I didn’t mind. I liked him. And I was happy with him being a great example of the best humanity can offer.

You say (overheard from ONE guy friend) THE TRAINING MONTAGE IS CHOPPED TOO QUICK TO MAKEOVER TO FIGHTING TO TEAMBUILDING TO BOSSFIGHT. I say… is this your first war movie? Cuz that’s the order those things happen. The only smashcut I DID feel was missing a connecting scene was when Diana and Steve are on their boat in the middle of the Mediterranean one minute, then she wakes (Steve says something weird about hitching a ride for them and their boat) because they’re pulling into London overnight.

I liked the movie a lot while I watched it. And I like it more now, days later. Why? For a couple of ridiculous reasons I’m not proud of: It did well in the box office and it was critically acclaimed by long box nerds across the world.

Maybe there will be a day when I get to have no tension about the future of feminism when I go to see a giant blockbuster movie that has some lady as a lead and just get to like it like I do when it’s a dude action hero. Who knows.

It has super cool lady montage training sequences. With PRINCESS BUTTERCUP, you guys. It has cool tricks on horseback with bows and arrows. They fight the modern WW1 army’s automatic weapons with horses and arrows and win. YEAH. Then they do the “remake our hero in clothes they don’t want to wear” sequence. FUN! Then it’s bring your superhero to work day! Meet the bureaucrats.

All set up with some origin and problems to solve? It’s time for adventure, sweet moments and team building. Then a big fight! Heroes are everywhere!! The superhero lady, the strong and smart soldier guy, the various bad news bears rising to the occasion with each with their unique skills on the team. Or finding your skill is being the singer guy. And then the REAL boss fight and we’re bookended “back in the present” moment.

It was smart and dumb and cool and looked great and, finally, a superhero movie from DC that wasn’t a bummer. Granted no stingers. I boo that. It’s almost like DC didn’t believe there’d be a sequel.

–Jackie Kashian

Share this post

Author: Jackie Kashian

Jackie Kashian is a comic, podcaster, writer, actor and occasional bottle washer if there's some attention to be garnered. Jackie's brand new album, I Am Not The Hero Of This Story, was #1 comedy album on iTunes and Amazon, #3 on Billboard, the first week of its release and is critically acclaimed. She is in the eleventh year of her podcast The Dork Forest, where she talks with people about what they love to do, think about and collect. All things are dorky and it's dork on dork dialog. She also has a new podcast on the Nerdist Network with Laurie Kilmartin called The Jackie and Laurie Show.